Crown cap counting mechanism



Aug. 10, 1943. P. E PEARsoN ETAL CROWN CAP COUNTING MECHANISM Filed March 6,- 1941 '1 sheets-sheet 1 @Waan/av; v

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 O O s QW.

Aug. 10, 1943. P a PEARsoN ETAL chown CAP COUNTING MEGHANISM med umn e, 1941 AUS' 10, 1943 A P. E PEARsoN Erm. 2,326,675 I CRWN 'CAP COUNTING MBECHANISH Filed ual-cn e, 1941 v sheets-sheet 4 I I I idf irrolPnrEy-s Aug. 1o, 194. P. E. pEAsoN ET AL 2,326,615

CROWN CAP CONTING MEGHANISM Filed March 6, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 1| f f ft/P616' JLM Aug. l0, 1943.

P. E. PEARsoN ET A. y 2,326,675 .CROWN CAP COUNTING MECHANISM Filed urcn s, 1941 v sheets-sheet e y JZ Aug. 10, 1943.

P. E. PEARSON ET AL 2,326,675 CROWN CAP COUNTING MECHANISM Filed March 6, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug. '10, 1943 UNITED g,STATES PATENT OFFICE zzasrs y cnowN en comme rmmamsx Peur E. reason :ma cui a Magnus; chie-ro,

lll., assigner to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a of New York Application March 6, 1941, Serial No. 382,056 (or. 23S-9a) The invention relates generally to the art of 9Claims.

manufacturing the crown caps commonly employed in closing bottles or similar beverage or foodstuff containers, and it primarily seeks to provide novel means for counting and registering the manufactured caps and delivering them in predetermined lots into the cartons or other packases in which they are marketed.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel f crown cap cormting mechanism ,in which 'the counting devices are actuated by elements the effective position of which is controlled by contact withxthe crown caps themselves, thereby making it impossible to count and register a cap when no cap is presen-t.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counting mechanism of the character stated in which the crown cap positioned actuating elements include means for yieldably applying pressure to the caps and the customarily provided spotted pad inserts therein, thereby to aid in setting the assembly of said cap components.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel counter actuating and cap pressing means including reciprocable plunger units individually Another object of the invention is to provide a counting mechanism of the character described which can be readily conditioned for distributing' different predetermined lots into Athe alternately filled receptacles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel counting mechanism of the character stated including a pivoted vane for controlling distribution of the caps, and spring loaded-cam controlled means for positioning said vane.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pivotal and yieldable mounting for Ythe counting unit, thereby to permit movement of the unit away from the associated'actuating devices in case of jamming of parts or an intent to temporarily discontinue the counting function.

With the4 above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be. more fully understoodby following engageable with the caps, each said unit comprising a. cap pressing plunger and a counting means actuating element having lost motion connection with the plunger so as to permit necessary projection and retraction thereof by the plunger to and from the counting mechanism actuating position and also the independent movement of the plunger desirable to enable discharging of caps without displacing said element from its effective position;

Another' object of the invention is to provide j novel means for receiving caps en masse or in groups and delivering them one by one and in suitably spaced relation for being engaged by said plunger umts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counting mechanism of the character stated which will automatically co'unt oil a predetermined number of caps while delivering them into one receptacle, and then divert and count oil' a like number of caps into another receptacle.

Another object of the in vention is to provide a counting mechanism 0f the character stated in which the counting function can be discontinued. at will, always with a clear indication of the numu ber'.4 of caps that have passed therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counting mechanism of the character stated in which the counting devices can be set and reset at will, and with vgreat facility.

thedetailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Inthe drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the invention.. A

Figure 2 is a' plan view,

parts being broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section l taken on the line 3 3 on Figure 2.

Figure i is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectionl taken on the line 5 5 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 5 6 on Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic horizontal sectional view illustrating the position oi' the cap stripper member.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical'cross section taken on the line 8 8 on Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line 9 9`on Figure 2. Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line Il l on Figure 2. Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line Il ll on Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line I 2 i2 on Figure 2. I

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of one of the mutilated pinions of the counting mechamsm.

Figure 14 is a. fragmentary perspective view illustrating a mutilated gear driving portion of the units dial of the counting mechanism.

Figure 15 is a development of the lifter cam.

The feeding means A includes a bed frame 5. supported upon a standard 6 and from which is* suspended an electric motor 1. The crown caps enter the apparatus en masse or in transverse rows on their way from the assembling or spotting machine'to the counting mechanism on a w'lde belt 8, the delivery end of which passes over a support trough 9 and over a pulley I6. The pulley I6 is mounted on a cross shaft Il' which is rotatable in frame bearings I2 and carries a worm wheel I3 to which rotation is imparted by a worm gear I4 mounted on a driver shaft I5 rotatable in frame bearings I6. The shaft I5 also carries a large pulley |1 which is driven by a belt I8 from the motor drive pulley I9. See Figures .1, 2 and 11.

The belt 8.feeds the caps, hollow side uppermost, under a single layer confining `shelf 20 and against an aligned belt 2| disposed diagonally across the belt 8 and which turns about a tensioning idler pulley 22 at the receiving side of the belt 8 and over a driver pulley 23 at the delivery side of said belt. The driver pulley 23 rotates.

in close proximity to the belt 8 and is carried at the lower end cfa vertical shaft 24 rotatable in bearings 25 and driven through a bevel gear couple 26 by a driver shaft 21. See Figures 1, 2

and 11, The shaft 21 is rotatable in bearings 2 8 l and is equipped with a pinion 29 to which rotation is imparted through an idler gear 38 from a driver gear 3l mounted on the cross shaft Il.

A knurled rotor 32 is opposed to the delivery end of the aligner belt 2| being spaced therefrom a distance just in excess of the diameter of the crown caps so as to cause the caps tc pass in single flle between said rotor and belt without jamming. The rotor 32 is mounted at the lower end of a shaft 33 rotatable in the vertically disposed frame bearing 34 and driven by pulley and belt connections 35 with the vertical extension of the shaft 24. See Figures 1, 2 and 11.

Crown caps passing single le between the delivery end of the aligner belt 2| and the jam preventing rotor 32 pass into the single le guidevway 36 and onto an endless conveyor 31 which passes over a tightener idler pulley 38 at its receiving end, and over a driver pulley 39 at its delivery end. The driver pulley `39 is alxed to one end of a driver shaft 40 rotatable in framevbearings 4| and having a worm gear 42 mounted thereon to which rotation is imparted by a worm gear 43 fixed upon a shaft 44.. The shaft 44.is rotatable in frame bearings 45 and is releasably drive coupled, as at 46, with the shaft I5 hereinbefore referred to. See Figures 2, 8 and .12.

The shaft 44 also carries a wormy gear 41 which meshes with and imparts rotation to a vworm wheel 4 8 mounted on a shaft 49 rotatable about a vertical axis in a bearing 58 in the casing unit 5| and which carries a spur gear 52 at its lower end and which serves to drive the turret or motor of the unit B in a manner later to be described. See Figures 2 and 9.

At its delivery end, the conveyor belt 31 delivers the crown caps one by one into the peripheral pockets of a distributer disk 53 which is adjustaseaev ably aiiixed to the upper end of a. sleeve 54 rotatable about a stud shaft 55 fixed vertically in a frame bearing 56. The sleeve 54 carries a spur gear 51 to which rotation is imparted by the turret or rotor gear to which, in turn, rotation is imparted by the gear 52 previously referred to. See Figures 2 and 10. While traveling about in the pockets of the distributer disk 53, the crown caps are retained by a surrounding wall 58 which extends to the discharge point 59 at which the crown caps are delivered one by one to the cap pressing, counter mechanism actuated unit B.

The unit B includes a bed frame 60 supported -on a frame standard or pedestal 6| and which supports a fixed center shaft 62 about which rotates the hub 63 of the unit turret or rotor 64. The turret includes a skirt portion 65 provided with a step 66 on which is supported a ring 61. The ring 61 extends over and is vertically spaced from the annular table or shelf extension 68 of the skirt portion, the latter preferably being equipped with equidistantly spaced depressions or seats 63 to receive the crown caps one by one from the cap feeding means A at the discharge point 59. See Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Aiiixed Vto the skirt portion 65 is a ring gear 10 which meshes with the driver and driven spur gears 52 and 51 hereinbefore referred to. See Figures 2 and 3.

A skirt ring 1I extends upwardly from the inner part of the ring 61, and another ring 12 overlies the ring 1| and extends over and in parallel relation above the ring 61. 'I'he ring 12, the skirt ring 1|, the ring 61 and the skirt portion 65 are secured in rigid assembled relation by screw bolts 13.

A cam track 14 is secured to and projects upwardly from the bed frame 60 and extends in concentric relation with the axis of the turret 64 over that portion of the bed frame at which the crown cap discharging and receiving stations are located. This lifter cam track is engaged by rollers 15 carried in the bifurcated lower ends of rods or plungers 16, one of which is disposed radially inward of each of the crown cap receiving seats or depressions 69. The rods or plungers 16 are reciprocably mounted and vertically guided in equidistantly spaced guide bores 11 formed in the turret skirt portions 65, :and reduced upper end portions of these rods or plungers extend through guide bores 18 provided in the top ring 12. See Figures 3 and 15.

Each plunger 16 has a head piece 19 secured thereon in spaced relation above the ring 61 and is. depressed by a compression spring 80 interposed between the respective head piece 19 and the overlying ring 12. The head pieces extend radially outwardly beyond the plungers on which they are carried and vin the outer end of each thereof is secured a pin 8| which projects above and below the same. At its lower end each pin 8| has secured thereto a crown cap presser head, and these heads are engageable with crown caps positioned in the table seats or 'depressions 69 through openings 83 provided in the ring 61.

. The crown caps are designated 84. At its upper and each said sleeve has a bore in its upper end end each pin 8| has a sleeve 85 secured thereon,

which is smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve so as to provide overhanging shoulders 86. The shoulders 86 and the upper ends of the pins 8| define the upper and lower limits of sleeve chambers for accommodating movement of the enlarged heads 81 formed on the lower ends of the actuator pins 88 which project upwardly through bores provided therefor in the upper ring 12, said pins being frictionally held in Vtheir receiving bores by spring pins 90. See Figures 2 and 3. The lifter cam 14 is shaped so as to engage each roller before the plunger by which it is carried reaches the cap discharging and counting station so as to lift the plunger and move the respective presser head 02 well above the underlying crown cap 84, thereby to free the crown cap and allow it to be stripped 'from the annular table or shelf 68 by the stationary stripper or discharging cam Il secured as at 92 on the Vframe and including a stripper nose portion 93 overlyingv the table portion il for that purpose. See Figure 7 Aand the cam portion at left or center in Figure 15. This lifting movement has no efrect upon the respective actuator pin 88 because of the 10st motion provided in the sleeve a5.

'111e roller 15 then engages the cam portion to the right of center in Figure 15, and the additional upward movement of the respective plunger 16 and pin 8`| serves to lift the respective actuator pin 80 and project the upper extremity thereof still higher and higher than the counting mechanism actuating position above the upper surface of the Aring 12 which is illustrated in Figure 3. As rotation oi the turret I4 continues, the respective roller 15 will ride oi! the lift crest or highest point of the cam 14 sc as to permit the respective plunger 16 to drop and the presser head 02 thereof to engage in the crown cap 84 which has just been deposited on the shelf l at-the discharge point il. See Figure 2. The chamber withinthe respective `sleeve i5 permits this amount of downward` movement ofthe presser head necessary to engage in a crown cap without retracting the actuator pin to an ineilective low position in which it cannot engage and actuate the counting mechanism. See Figure 3. Whenever a crown cap is not present beneath one of the presser heads, however, the respective plunger and pin Il is permitted to move downwardly a greater distance suilicient to cause the sleeve shoulders 06 to engage the enlarged head 81`of the respective pin and retract it downwardly from its previous, eiective projection above the ring 12. Thus retracted by the absence of the crown cap, the actuator pin will not be effective to later actuate the counting mechanism, and, as will be apparent from the previous description, the lift imparted to the pin 0| by the first engaged cam portion at the left of center in Figure will be insumcient to engage the head I1 and lift the pin 88 to its counter mechanism engaging position. Note .the clearance beneath the pinllinFigure 3. Bythismeansitisassured that counting and registering of crown caps will not take place when crown caps are not present on certain of the table seats 09.

The parts are so proportioned that when nov crown cap is plesent, the particular head piece 15 will engage the ring 61 and limit downward movement of the respective plunger 15 before the presser head 02 comes into direct contact with the annular table or shelf portion 08 of the turret.

-The counter unit proper, hereinbei'ore generally designated C, includes a casing or framing composed of a base casing section S4 having del project laterally from the legs- 95 and are apertured to receive mounting bolts |00 extending from the turret base frame. Coil springs |0| surround the bolts between the ears 99 andadjustable abutment nuts |02 applied to said bolts and serve to yieldably hold the unit casing against the turret base frame. See Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Between the legs 95 there is secured a. clistributer casting having a cap receiving body |03 divided by a partition wall |04 into two discharge compartments |05 leading into individual distributer chutes |06 disposed for delivering crown caps into one or the other of two cartons or receptacles (not shown) placed below said chutes. The crown caps discharged from the turret table or shelf portion 68 by the stripper cam 3| are delivered into one or the other of the distributer chutesV |506 under the control of a distributer vane |01 mounted on a rockable shaft rockably mounted in suitable bearing equipment |08 and equipped with a crank armv |09 to which movement is imparted for determining the position of the vane in a manner later to be described.

In the base section 94 there is secured a stud shaft H0 whichis disposed verticallyA and includes `a reduced upper end extension which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the lower .portion of the stud shaft and has support bearing, as at H2, in the cover section 98.

. See Figure 3.

, relation, on the main body Aof the stud shaft H0. It will be observed by reference to Figure 3 of the drawings that the dial plates H3, H4, I1, H8 are so related on the stud shaft portions and H0 that the side portions thereof disposed at the left, as viewed in this figure, are

vertically aligned, whereas the opposite side portions are aligned in upper and lower pairs H3,

. lll and H1, H8.

The d ial plate H3 is divided into twelve equal divisions I9 at the periphery, said divisions being numbered 0, l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, v11, and is equipped with a toothed ring |20 at' the top thereof provided with twelve equidistantly spaced teeth presented for individual engagement by such of the actuator pins 88 as project a proper distance above the turret ring 12. The

pending side legs or standards 85 which are pivdial plate having a single tooth receiving recess |22 and an underlying ring |23 having two movement imparting lugs |24 (see Figure 14) providing a tooth receiving space between them and registering with the recess |22. The dial plate H4 is divided into twelve equal divisions |25 at its periphery and which likethose of the dial plate H3 are numbered o, .1, 2, 3, 4, 5i, e, v, 8, 9, 1o, 11. The dial plate 4 carries a twenty-four toothed gear ring |26 at its upper edge and is also equipped with a ring |21 having a single, tooth receiving recess therein similar in form and purpose to the recess |22 previously referred to,

similar equipments'in the ring |23.

H3 is also equipped'with a ring |2| Thefdial plate `is divided at its periphery into ten equal spaces |29 numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.' This plate also is equipped with a gear ring |33 atits upper edge, butthis ring has only twenty teeth. Ring equipments |3| and |32 are included on the dial plate however, which includes two diametrically opposite disposed single tooth receiving recesses and driving lug equipments identical in form and purpose with those |22 and |23 previously described.

The lowermost dial plate ||8 is divided into ten equal peripheral spaces |33 numbered 0, 5, 10, l5, 20, 25, 30,A 35, 40, 45, and this plate also carries a gear ring |36 having twenty teeth and is aiiixed to the upper end of a sleeve |35 which is freely rotatable about the stud shaft The sleeve |35 also carries a cam |35 having a latch releasing nose or projection |3'i, and a from into the slide grooves |53 between the compression springs |54 of the respective sets. The slide |51 has two latching recesses |59 formed in one edge thereof, said recesses being alternately engageable by a latch member ||3|lV depending from the slide |B| slide guided for movement across the path of travel of theslide |51, said slide being moved in one direction by the cam |36, |37, and in the opposite direction, or in a direction for being held against said cam, by a compression spring |62. See Figures 3 and 4.

The slide |53 is link-connected, as at |63, to

' the upper end of a lever |65 which is pivoted intermediate its ends, as at |55, on the base section 96. The lower end of the lever |54 is link-connected, as at |36, to the vane actuating crank |03. The crank |69 is equipped with stop spur gearl |33 isV affixed tothe lower end of this sleeve in position for meshing with and imparting movement to a spur gear |39 freely rotatableabout a stud shaft |63 llxed on the casing base 96.` The gears |33 and |33 bear l-to-2 ratio so' that the gear |39 will be rotated once for each two rotations of the gear |38, and to the hub of the gear |33 is ailixed a spring loading cam |4I. See Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.

In a slideway |42 formed'in the central casing part 9| is mounted a slide bearing |63 in the arm extensions |66 of which a shaft |65 is mounted. The shaft |65 is vertically disposed and three pinions |65 are freely rotatable about this shaft between the upper and lower arm extensions of the slide bearing |63.- Every other tooth of eachof these pinions is mutilated by cutting away 0f the top portion thereof, as 'at |61, thereby to accommodate free movement of the rings |2|, |2`| and |3|, said mutilated teeth being deep enough, howevert to Ibridge the respective ring sets |23 and |26, |23 and |36, |32 and |36, and all full depth teethof all gears are deep enough to bridge all triple ring sets,

namely, |2|, |23,1|23 and |2|, |28, |30, and |3|, |32, |36. See Figures 3, 6, 13 and 14.

A slide bearing position determining knob |68 is afxed to the slide bearing v|63 and projected outside the unit casing, and a spring pressed plunger |69 is carried by the cover and is engageable in a recess |5Gin the upper surface of said ,slide bearing. When the spring plunger |49 is projected into the recess |58 the slide bearing is locked in the position in which the pinions 4B cooperate with the several dial plates.

It will be obvious that by withdrawing the plunger |63 from the receiving recess and pullin outwardly on the knob |68 the slide bearing '|63 may be moved so as to displace the pinions |65 from said eiective position. See Figures 3 and 5.

InAslideways |5| formed in the base casing section .96 and between it and the central section 3l is mounted an. energy storing slide |52 having parallel grooves |53 in its upper surface in which are mounted. four compression springs |56 arranged in two sets of two springs each.

The slide |52 `has -two pins |55 depending therefrom each of which is surroundedby a roller |56 engageable at opposite sides of the spring loading cam iM. It Willbe obvious that as the Y cam iai is rotated it shift the slide longi- ,Y

tudinally, rst in one direction and then in the opposite direction. See Figures 3, 4 and 6.

A vane shifter slide |51 is slidably mounted -on top of the energy storing slide |52 and is equipped with two pins |58 which depend therelugs |67 engageable with stop pins |38 to determine the rest positions of the crown cap distributor vane. See Figures and 6.

A suitable window |83 is provided in the unit casing, and a double pointer |16 is provided and is supported by the casing portion Sl in position for being viewable through said window for clearly indicating to an observer whether the pinions are 'in or out of effective position. When it is observed that the centrally disposed tooth of the pinion is opposite the pointer |70 farthest to the right as viewed in Figure 5 it is known that the parts are in the effective position, whereas when this tooth is opposite the pointer |710 farthest to the left it is known that the parts are in the ineffective or out of mesh position. Similar window equipment is provided i'n the casing through which a similarly supported pointer equipment H2 can be viewed lfor aiding in the resetting'oi the several dial plates, vthe pointer equipment |72 being so positioned that the zero markings on the dial plates can be brought into registry with said pointer |72 in resetting the dials. See Figure 5.

Operation During the operation of the apparatus, every actuator pin 3B which is projected a proper distan-ce above the turret ring l2 to indicate the presence of a crown cap 36 therebeneath, will engage a tooth of the ring |26 `and advance said ring and the attached dial plate H3 one of its twelve spaces or vdivisions H3 about the stud shaft extension Upon completion of a full rotation of the dial plate H3, or during the 12th step movement thereof indicating that one dozen `crown caps have been counted and discharged from the turret, the uppermost pinion |65 will be moved to impart a single step or space movement to the dial plate H4. rI'hus upon compleandi'upon completion of each half rotation- 1 of the dial plate Hl, a single step movement or one-tenth rotation will be imparted tothe dial plate H3 and to the vcam |36 and gear |38 valxed to the sleeve 3 5-on whichrit is carried.

Because of the 1to2 rati; fthe gears |38, |39, each rotation'of the sleeve"'|35 and gear |38 will have moved the. slide "7| 52 a distance in one direction or the other for 'storing a maximumofenergyinthe IMwhichvareenseeing the latch-secured slide pins III in the 'directioninwhichsaidslideismovingatihe gross crown caps had been counted. Similarly,

therebyshiitingthecapdivertingvane illsoas to divertthenextcoimtedand discharged crown cap, andthosesucceeding incountanddischarge,

the oervation ofthenumeral i on the unit dial plate |13, the numeral 2 on the dozen dial plate ill, the numeral I on the gross dial plate III, 'andthenumerallonthegrossdialplate H8 would indicate that 1 cap. plus 2 dozen caps. plus igross capaplus'l gros caps, or 1609 capsin al1 had been counted.

Each time the lowermost dial plate makes a complete cycle, the intended complement of crown caps will have been discharged into a 4given carton or receptacle and the vane II'I will be shifted to divert Succeeding caps into another infothecartonorr'eceptaclenexttobe'suppled with its complement ot caps.

When it isdesired to reset the counting mechanism after a coimting operation, it is only mf to displace the pinions i by proper manipulation of the phmger M9 and, knob i andtotunitheseveraldialplatestothecount startingpositions Thedialplatescanbethus reset by hand manipulation, and without special tools, the removable cover portion ll iirst having been removed to render the dial plates readily accessible for this resetting manipulation. The lower dial plate Ill isturned in a clockwise directionimtllitsaeromarkingregisterswlththe pointer equipment liz; This dial should always be-turned clockwise'so as to energize or release the slide energy storing spring equipments. It

SeealsoFl'gme3. 'i'.'hepii'iionsillarenexi:

linedup,beingcertainthattheteethproperlv line up with the pointer equipment ill. The knob lliisnextinto causethepinions toy move into their eiiective position, and when this position is attained the' spring plunger usv willdmpintotherecelvingrecess ill andsecuretheslidebearingand pinions-in the eitectivev position.

Itwill be obvious thatthe onthe various dial plates III, lil, III, ill reisterthe number of caps which have been counted at anygiventime,andbyobservingthepointer equipment |12 and its relation with the dials at any given time, an operator canv conveniently tell the number or caps which have been counted and discharged. For example, an observation showing the numeral I on the imit dial plate III and zeros on the remaining dial plates would indicate that eight crown caps had been counted. An observation showing the numeral 2 on the dozen dialplate ill and zeros on the remaining dial plates would-indicate that two dozen crown caps had been counted. An observation showing the niuneral lon the gross dial plate H1 andxerosontheremainingdialplateswould indicate that three gro crown lcaps had been A counted, and an observation showing the numeral- 5 on the gross dial plate ill and zeroson theA remaining dial plates would `indicate that iive willberecalledthatasthedialplate illmakes carton or receptacle. This operation continues automatically so long as the apparatus is running, and it will be obvious that by removal or the casing cover section and substitution of different dial plate combinations, the number of crown caps delivered into the respective cartons or receptacles can be readily varied.

It is of course to be understood `that the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modiiled without de,- parting from the spirit and scope oi our invention.

We claim:

1. In cap counting mechanism, a traveling cap carrier, individual counting mechanism actuating elements carried by the can'ier and including cap engaging Portions and counting means actuating portions said cap engaging portions being engageable with caps on said carrier in a manner for controlling the positioning of the elements' in eective position by reason of said cap`engagement or. in ineffective position in absence of said'cap engagement whereby said elements are individually controlled as to noneiieetive or eiiective positions by the absence or presence on said carrier of individual caps, means for feeding caps onto said carrier, means for eilfecting ement of said cap engaging element portions individually from the caps after ement of said cap element portions from the caps, and means actuat- .ed by said held element portions for counting the caps from said can-ier.

2. In cap oounting a traveling cap engagement or in ineii'ective position in absence of said cap en`- sagement whereby the connected upper parts are individually controlled as to non-effective or eiective positions by the absence or presence .on said carrier of individual caps, means for feeding caps onto said can'ier, means for holding O said eil'ectlve pomtion after disengagement of the lower part of the same element from a cap, means actuated by said held element upper parts for counting the caps moved by said carrier, and means for -counter mechanism actuating position,

means inducing two chutes directed te individuel receptacles, a shiftable vane for directing caps into one or the other of the chutes, a vane shiftstored energy, and a counter means actuated cam.

for positively displacing said trigger and releasing the energy and causing the sluiting element to shift the vane each time said predetermined lot of caps has been counted.

4. In cap counting mechanism, a Arotor hav-- ing a plurality of equidistantly spaced cap receiving seats arranged in a circle, means for feeding caps onto said seats, a plunger equipment movable with the rotor and overlying and axially reciprocable toward and from each seat and engageable or not at its lower end with a cap and when so engaging a cap projecting at its upper end in counter mechanism actuating position, means for controlling the positions of said plunger equipments to lift them and thereby free -for discharge caps underlying them and provide space for receiving caps therebeneath and to lower them lonto underlying caps or when n'o cap is present to a lower level at which the upper end of the respective plunger equipment will be withdrawn from its counter mechanism actuating position, and counting mechanism actuated by each plunger equipment disposed in counting I mechanism actuating position.

feeding caps onto said seats, a plunger equipment movable with the rotor and overlying and axially reciprocable toward and from each seat and engageable at its lower end with a cap and when so engaging a cap projecting at its upper end in cam means for controlling the positions of said plunger equipments to lift them and thereby free for discharge caps underlying them and provide space for receiving caps therebeneath and then to free -them and permit them to lower onto underlying caps or when no cap is present to a lower level at which the upper end of the respective plunger equipment will be withdrawn from its counter mechanism actuating position, counting mechanism actuated by each plunger equipment disposed in counting mechanism actuating position, and spring means for yieldably urging the plunger equipments toward caps on the seats.

6. In cap counting mechanism, a rotor having y a plurality of equidistantly spaced cap receiving seats arranged in a circle, means for feeding caps onto said seats, a plunger equipment movable with the rotor and overlying each seat and engageable at its lower end with a cap and when so engaging a cap projecting at its upper end in counter mechanism actuating position. means for controlling the positions of said plunger equipments to lift them so as to freefor discharge caps'nnderlying them and provide space for receiving caps -therebeneath. and to lower them onto underlying caps or when no cap is present to a lower level at which the upper end of the respective plunger equipment will be withdrawn from its counter mechanism actuating position, counting mechanism actuated by each plunger cluding an upper counting mechanism actuating section and a lower cap engaging section, means for yieldably holding each said upper section in positions to which it isv moved, and means providing lost motion between the upper and lower sections of each plunger equipment so that each cap engaging section can be lifted to free the underlying cap for discharge without disturbing the position of the respective upper section. n 7. In cap counting mechanism, a rotor have ing a plurality of equidistantly spaced cap'receiv ing seats arranged in a circle, means for feeding caps ontosaid seats, a plunger equipment movable with the rotor and overlying each seat and engageable atitslower end with a cap and when so engaging a cap projecting at its upper end in counter mechanism actuating position, a cam track for controlling the positions of said plunger equipments to lift them and thereby free for discharge capsunderlying them and provide space for receiving caps therebeneath and then to free them and permit them to lower onto underlying caps or when no cap is present to a lower level atwhich the upper end of the respective plunger equipment will be withdrawn from its counter mechanism actuating position, counting mechanism actuated by each plunger equipment disposed in counting'mechanism actuating position, each said plunger equipment including an upper counting vmechanism actuating section and a holding each said upper section in positions to which it is moved, means providing lost motion between the upper and lower sections of each plunger equipment so thatl each cap engaging section can be lifted to free the underlying cap for discharge without disturbing the position of the respective upper section, and a plunger guided for reciprocation on the rotor and directly connected with each lower section, and spring rmeans yieldably urging said lower sections and the connected plungers toward the caps and said cam track.

8. In varticle counting mechanism, article counting means including a rotor to which a dennite amount of movement is imparted in the attainment oi a predetermined denite lot count, means for imparting movement to said rotor, delivery chutes for directing counted articles into one or the other of two receptacles, a diverter vane shiftable to direct counted articles into one or the other of said chutes, a vane shifter slide equipment connected with said vane, means actuated by the rotor during the counting of a lot for storing energy in said slide equipment, reciprocablel latch means for holding the vane stationary during the storing of energy, and a cam rotatable witlrmeans actuated by the rotor and eective. upon completion of the lot count for releasing saidl latch and permitting-the stored energy to shift the l'slide equipment and the connected vane.

9. In article counting mechanism, article counting means including a rotor to which a denite amount oi 'movement is imparted in the attainment of a predetermineddenite lot count, means for, imparting movement to said rotor, delivery chutes for directing counted articles into one or the other 'of two receptacles, a diverter vane shiftable to'direct counted articles into one or the other of said chutes, a vane shifter slide `connected'with said vane and'having a projecting pin, an energy storing slide having a compression spring opposing said pin at each side and eiective when moved against said pin in 75 either direction to store energy in one or the lower cap engaging section, means for yieldably other of the springs tending to shift the shifter slide in one direction or the other, reciprocable latch means for holding the shifter slide against movement,V said energy storing slide having spaced lugs extending therefrom, a rotary cam between and engaging said lugs and effective during rotation to impart energy storing movement in one direction or the other to the energy storing slide, means for driving the cam from the rotor, and a cam rotatable with the rotor and effective for releasing said latch means upon completion of a predetermined lot count to permit the stored energy to shift the shifter slide and Vane.

PAUL E. PEARSON. CARL E. MAGNUS. 

